Jazz for the Soul Season Opener/Beth Lederman/Latin Jazz

Jazz for the Soul Season Opener LATIN JAZZ with Beth Lederman-piano, and features percussionist Frank Valdes, John Murray-bass, Miguel Melgoza-drums/percussion, and Adam Roberts-tenor sax!

Beth Lederman is well-known for her sophisticated jazz and rhythmic Brazilian and Latin-jazz piano styles, not only in the Phoenix area, but throughout the Western U.S. from Canada to Mexico. She has been playing professionally for more than twenty years, leading several bands and playing with such well-known names as The Diamonds, Bobbie Vinton, and the Drifters, as well as with local artists such as Dave Cook, Pete Pancrazi, Alice Tatum, Dennis Rowland, Renee Patrick, Paul McDermand, and her own groups, Jazz Con Alma and Novo Mundo.

Her music is melodic, fun, fluid, passionate, innovative, heartfelt, rhythmic, eclectic, honest, artistic, humorous, spontaneous…and great!

"Incredible piano diversity, inventive arrangements, and memorable originals."

Frank Valdes is a 26-year veteran of music performance who performs and tours with the Machito Orchestra, The Richie Cecere Orchestra, The Shirelles, The Dalton Gang and Donna Summers.

Singer-songwriter, drummer and percussionist Miguel Melgoza co-founded the Latin trio Cascabel and found success writing songs for nationally syndicated tv programs. Miguel played timbales for the salsa band Avance, subbing for legendary musician Karl Perazzo and played percussion and drums for several top bay area bands. 

Bassist Jon Murray is the Music Theory professor at Grand Canyon University and Orchestra and Jazz Director at Arizona School for the Arts,

Tenor Saxophonist Adam Roberts is an in-demand musician and educator. He performs and records on saxophones, guitars, flutes, and clarinets in a variety of genres including jazz, rock, funk, classical and pop. Adam is a seasoned music educator with over a decade of public school, college and private instruction. Adam is the Instrumental Music Lead at Chandler Gilbert Community College in Chandler, Arizona. Adam holds 3 music degrees in both performance and education, including a Masters from the New England Conservatory of Music. He has studied with a wide array of teachers including Jerry Bergonzi, George Garzone, Bob Brookmeyer, Danilo Perez, and Joel DiBartolo among others.

ALL JFTS CONCERTS ARE FREE and open to the public and all donations received will benefit local and international humanitarian causes.

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